The heartwarming story, adapted for the stage by Suzanne van Wijk and directed by Springs’ Frans Swart, takes to the stage at the Mardi Gras Theatre from February 7 to 18 and is billed as a “refreshed production of Fiela se Kind, in which Swart pays homage to Matthee, one of South Africa’s most talented authors”.
“It is once again time for us to experience the wonderful story of Fiela se Kind on stage,” Swart says.
“From the outset, my team and I said that we did not want to copy any of the former productions and so this production is fresh and new.
“I am very excited about what happened during the creative processes.
“Theatregoers will definitely experience a wonderful new production and, after 30 years, there is, of course, a whole new generation that has never seen Fiela se Kind on stage.”
Young Benjamin is played by Eloff Snyman from Cape Town and Nina is played by Jaime du Toit from Vereeniging.
These are two are extremely talented young actors who Swart says will do justice to the very important roles of the young Nina and Benjamin.
Zenobia Kloppers does the honours as Fiela in the run of the production at Carnival City.
Swart adds: “Then there are two wonderful young actors, Marissa Claasen and Phillru van Achterbergh, who will play the roles of the older Nina and Lukas, respectively.”
Fiela se Kind tells the story of the coloured woman, Fiela Komoetie, who raises her white foundling, Benjamin, with love and pride, until the day, nine years later, when the census takers take him away.
On the other side of the mountain, in the Forest, live the woodcutter Elias van Rooyen and his wife Barta who lost their three-year-old son, Lukas.
Could Benjamin and Lukas be the same child?
Years later, Benjamin/Lukas struggles with the question: “Who am I?”
“Whether you have read the book or watched the play before, this production of Fiela se Kind is a must see,” says Michelle Smith, marketing manager at Carnival City.
Bookings can be made by contacting Computicket at 0861 915 8000, or by booking online at www.computicket.com
The show starts at 7.30pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, at 3pm and 7.30pm on Saturday and at 3pm on Sunday.
Performances, especially for schools, will be staged on February 8 and 15 at 10am.
However, school groups can also be accommodated on other days.
